Coupling



M. H. POIRIER.

V COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 22. 191}. 1,340,739. Patented May 18, 1920.

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M. H. POIRIER.

COUPLINGv APPLICATION FILED DEC, 22,1917

Patented May 18, 1920.

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I attoumq M. H. POIRIER.

COUPLING. KPPLICATION HLEDEDEC. 22, I917- 1,340,789. Patented May 18,1920.

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HABCEL iEPOIBIER, 0F WOONSOCKET, RHODE ISLAND.

GOUPLING.

1,340,739. saunas... .1

Application filed December 2 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARGEL H.'Pommn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Woonsocket, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Couplings; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of, the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in train line couplings, an the principal object of the invention is to provide a device for use in coupling the trainlinesof railway cars and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a coupler which is adapted to be used whether the cars are standing on a curve or on straight rails.

A further ob ect of the invention is to 7 provide a device in which the coupling after the coupling of the latches for holding knuckles will be automatically uided to the proper positions and will be rmly locked process is completed. Still another object of the invention is to provide a device which will allow for the free movement of the draw bars when the cars are rounding a curve so as to, avoid any possibilty of pulling the couplers apart.

With these'and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts as will be fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a car equipped with this improved coupler;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through Fig. 1; ig. 3 is an'enlarged detail end new of one of the couplers;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of Fig. 3;

Fi 5 'is a top plan view of a pair ofcoup ers showing the same as they would appear prior to being coupled;

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the couplers after they have been coupled;

Fig."7 is a detail perspective view of one of the coupling knuckles;

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of one the knuckles in coupled position.

Fig. 9 is a detail view of one of the collars for engaging the train pipes in the pipe chest.

. pler in such has projected from its forward face,

Patented May 15,1920.

2, 1917. Serial No. 208,467.

"Fi 10 is a detail view of one of the coupling r ngs for holding the flexible pipes in connection with the rigid pipes,

Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view through one of the plpe couplings, and

Letters Patent.

ig. 12 is an end elevation of a modified form of coupler showing the same adapted for use on freight cars.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a car of the ordinary construction provided with the usual axle 2 and wheels 3. The train pipes are designated by the numeral 4 and extend in spaced par llel relation longitudinally of the car as will be clearly seen upon reference to Fig. 1. Suitable depending angle brackets 5 extendmg in parallel relation are attached to the under side of the car body and slidable between said brackets is the draw bar 8. The draw bar 8 is supported by a stra 8' and the draw bar is freeto, swing lateral y. Bars 7 are attached to the draw bar 8 and pro- 'ect laterally therefrom and are received 9 surround the bars 7 and bear against the washer 10 on the outer surface of the angle orackets 5 and against the washer 10 carried by the ends of the bars 7 and form yieldable centering means by which the coupler head is maintained in place. Suitable nuts 10 hold the washer 10 in place. Connected to the end of the draw bar 8 by suitable bolts 6 is the yoke 11 and a compression coil spring 10" is seated therein and the coil spring bears against plates 11 slidably mounted in the yoke, and these plates bear against lugs (not shown) carried by the brackets 5 and yieldably hold the couposition as to be enga 'ed by the coupler of the adjacent bar. Eac draw bar 8 is provided at its forward end with numeral 11 which comprises a body 12 formed with a solid head portion 13, which at the lower portion thereof, a dowel pin 14 and formed in spaced relation thereto is a socket or recess 15. As illustrated in Fig. 3, it will be seen that the pins and recesses are in such a position that the pins and recesses of the ad'acent cars will interlock in the manner illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. The sockets 15 have their outer surfaces inclined inwardly entrance of the dowel pins 14 thereinto as at 15 so as to facilitate theand the dowel pins 14 are provided with inclined enlargements 14" adjacent the body 13. e The body 12 is formed with a pocket 16 which is adapted to accommodate the coupling knuckles which will be more fully hereinafter described. As illustrated in Fi 4 it will be seen that the 1 pocket exten s from the top of the head '13' t1o'a point near the lower end of the body and-adjacent to the dowel pins 14 and formed at the forward edge ofthe lower walls of the pocket are the inclined faces 17 which act as guides when the couplers are moved toward each other inorder to insure the proper positioni of the couplers with relation to each Attached to the under side of the body 13 is the pipe chest designated by the numeral 18 which comprises a hollow body 19 provided with an open side wall, which is closed by a hinge cover 20, the intle 21 of which is surrounded by a coile spring 22, one end of which engages a cover while the opposite end of the spring engages the side edges of the lower' end of the head. A

handle 22" is provided for the cover whereby the same can be easily operated, so that access may be readily had to the pipes for repairs and the like. Formed in the front and rear walls of the body 19 of the .pipe chest are alined apertures 23 through d which the rigid pipes 24 are slidable. These pipes are connected by hose or the like 25 to rigid V-shaped branch pipes 26 which are connected to the train pipes 4. Suitable rings 27 connect the flexible pipes 25 to the I -'rig1d pipes and these rings as shown in ends thereof a'nd the ends are apertured to receive an adjusting nut and screw 33 by means vof which the collars are held in position on the pipes 24. Each of the pipes 24 has threaded thereon asocket 34 provided with a flange 35 which is recessed'as at 36" in its forward face to receive a gasket 37 of a relativel soft material such as rubber or the like. The gasket 37 extends beyond the recess in the flange 35 and the walls of the recess are bent inwardly as at 38 into engagement with the sides of the gasket 37 Formed on the'upper and lower walls of the body 11 are extending ears 39 which are apertured to receive the pivot bolts 40 of the knuckles designated enericall by the numeral 41. These knuc les are 1llustrated in detail in Fig. 7 and each of them comprises a cylindrical body 42 having extending therefrom a relatively small arm 43 while a coupling arm 44 extends from the body at an angle of substantially thirty degrees with relationv to the arm 43. The arm 43 has a rounded back 43', so as to throw the latch, which will be hereinafter 'described, when the same is in operative-position. Recesses 17 and 17" are formed ad-' jacent the pocket 16 for receiving the pivot bolts 40 of the cou lers, when the same are in ecesses '45 are formed in locked position. the upper and lower ends of. the body and are adapted to accommodate the ears 39, while an axial aperture 46 extends'longitudinall through the body 42 and receives the pivot bolts 40 hereinbefore described. Upon reference to Figs. 5 and 6 it will be seen that as the two knuckles come together they will move into folded position illustrated in Fig.

6 thereby locking theparts against relative movement.

In order to lock the knuckles in place after the coupling has been effected, a sliding latch member 47 is slidable in -the pocket 16 and is provided withan inclined guide 48, which rides in an inclined guide way 49 so that upon upward movement of the latch the sa is will move rearwardly and away from ontact with the knuckle.

wardly therefr n through a suitable o ning 50 is a ull wire 51. The coup ing knuckles are arranged to swing directly intq the coupler body and into engagement with the latch 47, so as to loosen the latch and thus permit the couplers to be separated. when so desired.

In operation, the pull Secured to F4 latch and extending up-- wire 51 is pulled upwardly, which will raise the latch 47 and .v

carry,- its guide 48 forwardly out of the guide way 49 and the knuckles in will engage the knob 47 formed on the latch 47, in passing and push the latch on its base. In closing, the knuckles will hit the inclined rib 47 formed on the latch 47 and will raise the latch until the knob 47" is positioned on'top of'the knuckles. The rounded portion 43' of the small arm .43

48 of the latch 4 and pushes its ide 48 into place in the guide way 49. en the latch is down and the knuckle is opened the 'r unded portion 43 of the knuckle engages raises t e slanting rib 47 of the latch and p the guide 48' out of the guide way 49 and permits the knob 47 to pass over the small opening of the knuckles en ages the inclined portion arm 43 when the knuckle has reached its innermost position. The latch thendrops back into the guide way'49 and the cou plers are then securely held inenga cut with each other. Theguide ways 4953:; is communicating openin which extends entirely through the M05; 13 and allows cin- -ders .and dirt and the like to pass out of the 7 guide way 49.

In order to prevent the escape of fluid from the train pipes whenthe couplers are disconnected, suitable valves 52 are arranged in the V-shaped branch pipes 26 and provided with valve rods 53 extending through the side of the car and through,

angle plates 54 attached to the under side controlled from either side-of the car. addition to the couplers above described,

of the car and it will thus be seen that the movements of the valves may be readily In the end of each train pipe is provided with a valve 55 having connected thereto .a flexible hose 56 provided with a coupler head 57 which may be used in case ofcmergency when the main coupler is not in use and in such places as where one car is provided withthe ordinary type of coupler and the next adjacent car with the improved coupler hereinbefore described.

In Fig. 12is illustrated a modified form of the coupler, which is especiallyadapted for freight cars and is identical in con struction with the other couplers with the exception that the pipe chest 18 is provided with only one pipe 24, as is usual in freight car construction.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention,,it is to be understood that such changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of parts as will fall within the spirit and scope of the amended claim.

WVhat is claimed is The combination with the air and steam pipes of a railway car, flexible hose secured to the ends of said'pipes and carrying couplings, and a coupling head carried by each end of .the car and mounted for yielding movements longitudinally and laterall with relation to the car, of valved branc pipes communicating with said air and steam pipes inwardly of their ends, a chest carried by each coupler head, pipes slidably mounted in said chest and extending beyond the inner and outer walls thereof and provided at their outer ends with couplings, springs located in the chests and urging the slidable pipes outwardly, and flexible pipes communicating with said branch pipes and with the pipes carried'by said chests.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARCEL' H. POIRIER.

Witnesses EMERY Ma'r'rrrmn, ANTOINE DEMERS. 

